CRAZYWISE

​Director

​Co-Director

What if a psychological crisis was seen as having the potential to be a positive transformative experience, instead of a “broken brain”?

Human-rights photographer Phil Borges witnessed how indigenous cultures around the world often identify “psychotic” symptoms as an indicator of shamanic potential.

Back in the US, Phil follows two young Americans diagnosed with “mental illness.” Adam, 27, suffers devastating side effects from medications before embracing meditation. Ekhaya, 32, survives several suicide attempts before spiritual training to become a traditional South African healer.

CRAZYWISE introduces mental health professionals and psychiatric survivors who see a psychological crisis as a potential growth experience, not a disease.

Phil Borges, a social documentary photographer and filmmaker, has been documenting indigenous cultures for over 25 years. His films and photographs are exhibited in museums and galleries worldwide. Phil has hosted television documentaries on indigenous cultures for Discovery and National Geographic. As an experienced lecturer, he has spoken at multiple TED talks. Phil directed 13 short documentaries focusing on gender based issues around the world for UN Women, CARE, ReSurge, joinFITE, Foundation for Women and One Heart. Two recent films include: One Heart in Nepal (2012, 6:39 min), Director/Cinematographer/Documentary Short/Online and Ms. Trung (2012, 4:51 min), Director/Cinematographer/Documentary Short/Online.

Kevin Tomlinson is a Seattle-based producer, director and cinematographer for over 25 years. He’s earned Emmys and Tellys for his broadcast news camerawork (NBC, ABC, CBS, PBS) and for nationally syndicated news magazines: 48 hours, 60 minutes (CBS), Nightly news, Dateline (NBC), 20/20, ABC and the PBS series, “Travels in Europe” with Rick Steves. Kevin shot, directed and co-produced with Judy Kaplan, the award-winning feature documentary, “Back to the Garden” which premiered at SIFF (2009) screening at over 30 international film festivals; with local and national broadcasts on PBS. Recent documentary work : ‘The Breach’ (2014, 90min), Cinematographer: feature Documentary.